Mesoamerica

We explain what the region of Mesoamerica is and what were the civilizations that inhabited it. In addition, how was their religion and what its main innovations were.

What is Mesoamerica?

Mesoamerica is a historical region of the American continent that It includes most of Central America (the current countries of El Salvador, GuatemalaBelize and parts of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica) and the center-south of Mexico. His name comes from the Greek Messoswhich means “medium” or “intermediate”, and was coined by anthropologist Paul Kirchhoff to refer to the lands of central America, in which there were great civilizations before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Together with Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley, the Indo Valley, the Yellow River Basin and the Central Andes, the Mesoamerica region It is considered one of the six areas of the world in which some researchers arose calling “original civilizations”: State and urban societies that formed without the external influence of other states and that left important archaeological vestiges.

The first indications of agriculture in Mesoamerica date from 5000 a. C. However, the times corresponding to the Mesoamerican civilizations themselves began with the preclassic period around 2500 a. C., when fully sedentary societies arose that made use of ceramics. The history of Mesoamerica before the Spanish conquest It is usually divided into the preclassic periods (2500 BC.-200 AD), Classic (200 d. C.-900 AD) and postclassic (900 d. C.-1521 d. C.).

The main Mesoamerican civilizations were Los Olmecas, Los Zapotec, the Maya, the Teotihuacanos, the Mixtecs, the Toltecs and the Mexicans or Aztecs. These civilizations were characterized by their cultural manifestations (such as architectural style, sculptures and writing) and by corn cultivation practices, beans, avocado, vanilla, pumpkin, cocoa and chili, among other species. They also stood out for their complex government systems and religion.

Mesoamerica was a wide territory inhabited by indigenous populations before the arrival of the Spaniards, which extended by most of Central America and the Center-South of Mexico. Its main geographical characteristics were una great variety of land and climate according to the regionswhich generated some diversity in cultivation types. The main difference was marked between high and lowlands:

• The highlands They were made up of mountain range, desert areas (especially north), a volcanic mountain range and river valleys with a variety of climates. They covered the areas around the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre del Sur (in Mexico) and the mountainous regions of Central America.
• The lowlands They were made up of irrigable plains and jungle areas of warm weather that extended from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the Yucatan Peninsula, as well as the Pacific coast.

See also: Aridoamérica

Periods of the history of Mesoamerica

The history of Mesoamerica before the Spanish conquest is divided into three periods:

• Preclassic. It extended from 2500 a. C. until 200 d. C.
• Classic. It extended since 200 d. C. up to 900 d. C.
• Postclassic. It extended from 900 d. C. until 1521 d. C.

However, this chronology is approximate and usually has variants for the different regions.

Archaeologists estimate that the first indications of human activity in Mesoamerica date from between ten thousand and thirty -five thousand years ago. Around 12,000a. C. The lithic instruments used by the groups of hunters and collectors who mobilized by the territories of Mesoamerica were improved.

The change towards agriculture began from 5000 a. C. and allowed the peoples to be established sedentaryly. The gradual domestication of food plants, such as corn, beans and pumpkins, benefited from the properties of humid and fertile terrain. In 2500 a. C., sedentary life extended and consolidatedceramics began to be used and a demographic increase was experienced. This marked the beginning of what researchers call a preclassic period.

During the preclassic period, more specifically around 1200 a. C., it emerged The first Mesoamerican civilization recognized as such, Los Olmecasthat left archaeological indications of social differentiation and artisanal specialization.

The Olmecs improved agricultural productivity, maintained exchange relations with other regions and perfected artisanal production. Its ceramics had varied styles and performed some of the first monumental architectural works of Mesoamerica, such as the first pyramids and the “colossal heads” carved in stone, almost three meters high.

From the classical period (between 200 AD. And 900 AD), large cities and religious centers were built. For example, the Urban Center of Monte Albán, built by the Zapotec civilization, which received the influence of the architecture and art of the Olmecs. The city of Teotihuacan and the urban complexes of the Maya were also very important at this stage.

During the post -classic period (between 900 and 1521 AD), there were important innovations In the areas of monumental architecture, agriculture, astronomy and mathematics, in addition to the introduction of metallurgy and the impulse of militarism. The societies that stood out at this stage were Totonacas, Mixtecs, the Toltecs and the Mexica or Aztecs. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521 is usually considered the end point of this period.

Mesoamerican civilizations

The main Mesoamerican civilizations were:

• The Olmecs. They formed the first great civilization of the region, corresponding to the preclassic period, and built the first known Mesoamerican pyramids.
• The Maya. They had their boom era in the classical period and developed great knowledge of mathematics, astrology and writing, in addition to standing out in military activity.
• The Zapotec. They developed urbanism in the classical period, with a center in the city of Monte Albán, and exercised domination in the Oaxaca Valley.
• The Teotihuacanos. They extended their cultural influence beyond the city of Teotihuacán, which was one of the most important urban complexes of the classical period. They contributed sophisticated techniques in art, especially in ceramic decoration and wall paintings with geometric motifs or images of gods.
• The Toltecs. They focused on the city of Tula at the beginning of the post -classic and stood out for the architectural style and the warrior vocation, which was reflected in the sculptures and reliefs of warriors and sacrifices. After the end of the Toltec boom around 1150 d. C., other Mesoamerican dynasties spread legends about Tula, and the Aztec rulers presented themselves as their descendants.
• The Mixtecs. They promoted a military expansionist policy in the post -classic period that allowed them to control a wide territory. In the fifteenth century they were invaded by the Mexica.
• The Aztecs or Mexica. They founded the city of Tenochtitlan (where Mexico City is currently located) in the fourteenth century and built large palaces, temples and markets. They managed to expand through wars and alliances. The Aztec empire faced the Spaniards between 1519 and 1521, but was defeated and conquered.

Religion of Mesoamerican cultures

The religions of Mesoamerican civilizations They had some characteristics in common:

• Polytheism. They were polytheistic religions, that is, they worshiped various gods, although they used to give greater importance to a particular deity (such as Huitzilopochtli among the Aztecs).
• Natural animals and elements such as gods. They used to identify their divinities with elements of nature (such as water and fire) and with real or imaginary animals (such as jaguar and feathered snake).
• The priestly caste. They had a privileged group that controlled religious rituals, writing and calendar, and that was part of the government.
• The sacrifices. They practiced various forms of human sacrifice, which used to serve the offerings to the gods and were generally associated with the capture of prisoners of war.

Innovations of Mesoamerican cultures

Some of the main innovations of Mesoamerican cultures were:

• The writing. It was first used by the Olmecs and generally consisted of a glyph system (symbols that represented ideas, objects, words or syllables).
• The calendar. It was characteristic of the Mayan civilization and consisted of a 360 -day sacred calendar and a 365 -day solar cycle. It was also used by other Mesoamerican cultures and it is believed that it had its origin in an Olmeca calendar.
• The monumental architecture. It was one of the most representative features of Mesoamerican cultures. It was closely related to mathematical knowledge and allowed the construction of cities, temples, palaces and other large buildings. Among the most characteristic works are the pyramids, which used to function as ceremonial centers.

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References

• Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2023). Mesoamerican Civilization. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
• COE, M., Snow, D. & Benson, E. (1994). Ancient America. Pre -Columbian civilizations. Folio.
• López Austin, A. and López Luján, L. (2001). The indigenous past. Economic Culture Fund-The College of Mexico.
• Manzanilla, L. & López Luján, L. (coords.) (2001). Ancient History of Mexico. 4 vols. National Institute of Anthropology and History.
• Von Wobeser, G. (coord.) (2014). History of Mexico. Economic Culture Fund.